Kimberley Inniss-Petersen, Executive Director of the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce released a statement in response to the Government of Ontario’s newly proposed legislation, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018, announced by the Honourable Todd Smith, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

“The proposed legislation is a fundamental step toward easing the strain on businesses and creating a more efficient, flexible and easy to navigate regulatory regime. The Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce applaud the government for holding to its commitment to cut unproductive red tape.

“With over 380,000 regulations, Ontario is currently the most regulated province in Canada, a burden which continues to limit Ontario’s competitiveness and economic prosperity every single day. As our economy evolves, so too must the regulatory environment," said Inniss-Petersen in a news release.

“The Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce are pleased to see the Government of Ontario making provisions that will reduce paperwork within the agriculture industry and remove barriers to expedite approvals for business investments," she said.

“Additionally, the decision to expand the autonomous vehicle pilot is a welcome first step towards eventually formalizing the program, as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce recommended in the recent report, Moving Forward: Towards a Strategic Approach to Ontario’s Transportation Needs (Part I).”

Inniss-Petersen further said that there is a definite need for public transportation in Saugeen Shores and the surrounding communities. "Many members have come forward to the Chamber of Commerce to express their frustration on transportation and how it is linked to the housing and skills gap in the area. While the autonomous vehicle pilot does not solve our immediate need, it does open up the possibility for future solutions and alternative transportation methods. This is especially important as the town continues to grow."

The Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce recently participated in the town's Transportation Study as part of their advocacy strategy.